Palestinian children and young athletes are continuing to practise taekwondo amid the rubble of damaged buildings in Gaza, as the war’s destruction has disrupted sports facilities and limited opportunities for training.
On October 6, 2026, young Palestinians participated in a taekwondo training session in Nuseirat, in central Gaza. The session took place near heavily damaged buildings, highlighting the conditions under which athletes and coaches are attempting to continue sporting activities.
The training is being led by Palestinian taekwondo coach Mahmoud Abdullah al-Kronz, who has continued working with children despite the destruction of his home and the lack of suitable facilities. The damaged property has become a makeshift training space where young athletes can practise with limited resources.
The war that began in October 2023 has caused widespread destruction across Gaza, including damage to buildings and sports infrastructure. Many athletes have faced interruptions to their training because sports clubs and other facilities have been damaged or rendered unusable.
According to reporting by Anadolu Agency, al-Kronz said that he and his athletes had previously prepared to represent Palestine at international and Arab competitions. However, the conflict forced them to suspend their activities. Members of the sporting community were killed or injured, while others left Gaza or faced financial difficulties that affected their ability to continue training.
With conventional training facilities unavailable, al-Kronz and his students have resumed practice in a basic space among the ruins. The arrangement allows the children to continue learning taekwondo despite the limited equipment and difficult surroundings.
The coach has also expressed hope that conditions will improve and that the athletes will eventually have access to a proper sports hall where they can train more comfortably.
Among the young athletes continuing to practise is 14-year-old Gazal Mahmoud al-Kronz. She previously trained at Al-Aqsa Sports Club, but damage to the club and difficulties with transportation forced her to continue training at home.
Gazal is preparing for trials for the Palestinian national taekwondo team and hopes to represent Palestine in international competitions. Her ambitions reflect the challenges facing young athletes whose sporting development has been interrupted by the conflict.
In an interview reported by Anadolu Agency, Gazal described the impact of the war on her aspirations and said she wanted to continue practising the sport despite the difficult conditions and shortage of resources.
She also called for sports facilities that would enable young athletes to develop their abilities and pursue competitive opportunities.
Her continued participation demonstrates the determination of young Palestinians to maintain their sporting interests despite the disruption to their daily lives.
Taekwondo is a martial art that combines physical techniques with discipline, concentration and structured training. For the children participating in the sessions in Nuseirat, practising the sport provides an opportunity to remain physically active and continue developing their skills.
The training sessions also allow young people to participate in an organised activity at a time when many aspects of everyday life in Gaza have been disrupted.
However, the makeshift training area cannot replace the facilities, equipment and resources required for regular sports development. Continued access to safe training spaces remains an important challenge for athletes and coaches across the territory.
The damage to sports infrastructure has also affected the ability of athletes to prepare for competitions and maintain established training routines.
The sessions in Nuseirat offer an example of how local coaches and young athletes are attempting to preserve sporting activities despite the effects of the war. Al-Kronz’s efforts have enabled children to resume training in circumstances that differ considerably from those in a conventional sports club.
For Gazal and the other participants, continuing to practise provides a way to pursue their interests and maintain their ambitions in sport.
Their training does not remove the challenges caused by damaged buildings, limited resources and interrupted sporting opportunities. It does, however, demonstrate that taekwondo remains part of their lives despite these obstacles.
As Gaza continues to face the consequences of widespread destruction, the young athletes’ efforts highlight the importance of restoring sports facilities and providing children with opportunities to train, develop their abilities and compete.
For the children practising in Nuseirat, the immediate goal remains to continue training and keep their sporting ambitions alive, even as they work in the ruins left by the conflict.
